Effect of omega6 : omega3 fatty acid ratios on semen quality of Malaysian village roosters.

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of different dietary oil sources on qualitative and quantitative features of Malaysian village rooster’s semen. Forty five Malaysian village roosters (BA Breed) at 30 weeks of age were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 dietary treatments with 3 oil sources (fish oil, vegetable oil and cooked oil). Semen collected from roosters 2 times a week and analyzed by computer-assisted sperm analyzer (Hamilton Thorne Motility Analyzer; IVOS, Beverly, MA). The viability (live to dead spermatozoa ratio) was measured using eosin-nigrosin smears under light microscope and semen volume was determined by reading the scale on the tube. The results showed that in comparison to either vegetable or cooked oils, the addition of fish oil as a source of omega3 fatty acids to diets, significantly (P < 0.05) increased motile spermatozoa and average smoothed path velocity (VAP) but decreased static type of spermatozoa in village rooster’s semen (P < 0.05). Conversely, the addition of cooked oil decreased motility and VAP of rooster’s semen (P < 0.05). Dietary treatments with different oil sources had no significant effect on progressive traits such as semen volume, semen concentration and live and dead spermatozoa (P > 0.05). It was concluded that the addition of polyunsaturated fatty acids may improve semen quality in hot climates

Effect of threonine and potassium carbonate supplementation on performance, immune response and bone parameters of broiler chickens

This study aimed to investigate the effect of different levels of dietary threonine (i.e. 100%, 110% and 120% of Ross recommendations) and potassium (i.e. 0.85% and 0.94% of diet) on performance, immune response, and bone parameters broiler chickens. Three hundred one-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. Growth performance was not affected by dietary treatments. Birds fed diet containing 120% threonine and high potassium level were exhibited a lower immune response to phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P) as compared to control group (P < .05). Addition of 120% threonine with 0.94% potassium decreased heterophil percentage and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio and increased lymphocyte percentage (P < .05). Tibia and femur width and ash, Ca and P percentage of tibia, and breaking strength of bones were not influenced by dietary potassium level, whereas the width of tibia and femur was increased in broiler chickens received diet containing 120% threonine and 0.94% potassium compared to control group (P < .05). It is concluded that broiler chickens FI during starter period, cell mediated immune response and blood hematology were influence by dietary threonine and potassium interaction